Container anchor rack

ABSTRACT

An inexpensive stand or rack supporting a barrel, drum, garbage can, or the like receptacle in spaced relation above the ground and having upstanding abutments and a rotatably mounted cam locking the receptacle to the rack. The abutments and cam are vertically adjustable on the rack to overlie beads or rims of different heights on the bottom periphery of the receptacles. The abutments are also adjustable toward and away from the cam to accommodate receptacles of different sizes. The rack is preferably an angle iron A-frame with the cam rotatably mounted at the apex thereof, the abutments mounted at the divergent ends of the legs and mounting bolts or anchor legs depending from cross-struts.

United States Patent [191 Deike CONTAINER ANCHOR RACK [76] Inventor: Robert F. Deike, 420 E. Fox Farm,

Cheyenne, Wyo. 8200] [22] Filed: Aug.'9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 169,919

[52] US. Cl 248/154, 248/203, 248/310, 248/311, 248/361 B [51] Int. Cl ..L B651 1/02 [58] Field of Search... 248/154, 146, 147, 149, 151, 248/134, 310, 311, 313, 203, 361 B; 211/71, 76, 82, 83, 84, 133, 4, 8; 220/38 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,947,879 2/1934 Sandberg et al. 248/147 2,917,267 12/1959 Riddle 248/361 B 3,363,672 1/1968 Wigam t 248/361 B 2,675,986 4/1954 Fisher 248/361 R 2,077,101 4/1937 Embury 243/310 750,245 1/1904 Arpin 248/310 3,208,706 9/1965 Clark 248/147 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 990,360 4/1965 Great Britain 248/146 [451 Jan. 29, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT An inexpensive stand or rack supporting a barrel, drum, garbage can, or the like receptacle in spaced relation above the ground and having upstanding abutments and a rotatably mounted cam locking the receptacle to the rack. The abutments and cam are vertically adjustable on the rack to overlie beads or rims of different heights on the bottom periphery of the receptacles. The abutments are also adjustable toward and away from the cam to accommodate receptacles of different sizes. The rack is preferably an angle iron A-frame with the cam rotatably mounted at the apex thereof, the abutments mounted at the divergent ends of the legs and mounting bolts or anchor legs depending from cross-struts.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures INVENTOR. Ease-er f. DE/Kf ATTORNEYS Ursa PATENTEBJAHZSIBH I N VEN TOR.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to stands or racks for refuse containers and particularly deals with an inexpensive device which will clamp lock a refuse container in spaced relation above the ground to hold it against upsetting by wind, animals, or vandals, thereby preventing theft or damage of the receptacle or scattering of its contents. The devices of this invention are especially useful in public campsites to preserve the ecology.

2. Description of the Prior Art Garbage can stands or racks are known in the prior art such as, for example, in the Heins on et al. US. Pat. No. 1,598,135 dated Aug. 31, 1926 and the Sandberg et al. US. Pat. No. 1,947,879 dated Feb. 20, 1934. These prior art devices, however, are heavy, cumbersome and expensive, are designed to accommodate only one type and size of can, and are not theft-proof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is now provided a relatively lightweight, compact, inexpensive, theft and vandal proof rack accommodating containers of different sizes to support them in locked relation above the ground, thereby maintaining the ecology of the environment. The racks of this invention are preferably angle iron A-frames with dependent anchoring bolts or legs connected to a base block or ground anchor. The apex of the A-frame rotatably mounts an upstanding stud carrying a cam plate. The divergent ends of the legs of the A-frame are slotted and carry nut and bolt assemblies with loose washers adjustable to overlie the bottom rim or bead of a container while pressing against the periphery of the container. The cam is also vertically as well as rotatably adjustable to overlie the rim or bead of the container and press against the periphery of the container for forcing it against the washers. A three-point clamp is thereby created engaging the bottom periphery of the container preferably in equally spaced relation. The cam may be rotated by a removeable handle and can be locked in clamped position to prevent unauthorized release.

Since the A-frame is carried in spaced relation above the ground, the area underneath the container will be ventilated to preserve its natural condition, while at the same time the bottom of the container will be protected against rusting and corrosion.

The lid of the container can be suspended from an arm mounted on the rack or'container.

It is then an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive, easily mounted stand or rack which will clamp receptacles such as garbage cans in locked relation above the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack having abutments overlying the bottom peripheral bead or rim' of a trash receptacle and coacting with an opposed cam to clamp the receptacle to the rack.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trash receptacle stand with a locking cam preventing removal of the receptacle from the stand.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an A- frame rack stand for trash receptacles having adjustable abutments overlying the bottom peripheral bead of the receptacle and a rotatably mounted cam cooperating with the abutments to provide a three-point lock for the receptacle.

Other and further objects of this invention will be ap- 5 parent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown on the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a stand or rack according to this invention supporting a garbage or trash ,can in locked relation above the ground;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the rack or stand 10 of this invention supports a garbage can or trash receptacle 11 in spaced relationabove the ground G. The rack 10 is secured to the ground by any suitable ground anchor A. The illustrated anchor has a post 12 driven into the ground and a head plate 13 secured over the post resting on the ground. The plate 13 is relatively small compared to the overall size of the rack 10 and receptacle ll thereon so as to overlie only a small area of the ground G. It should be understood that the anchor A may be replaced with any suitable base such as a concrete plug or the like.

As better shown in FIG. 2, the rack 10 has an angle iron A-frame 14 with divergent legs 15 and a pair of cross-struts 16. The apex of the frame has an upstanding internally threaded tube or coupling 17 welded to the convergent ends of the legs 15 as by weld bonds 18. The struts 16 are welded to the legs 15 in spaced parallel relation intermediate the ends of the legs.

The angle irons forming the legs 15'are arranged so that their top faces 15a will be in a flat horizontal plane at the same level and their side faces 15b will depend from the inner edges of the faces 15a. Conversely, the angle irons forming the struts 16 will have the flat horizontal faces or legs at the bottoms thereof and projecting forwardly from the upstanding vertical faces or legs 16b.

A rigid frame is'thereby provided with flat top faces 15a along the divergent legs 15 and with flat bottom faces 16a along the struts 16 at a level below the faces 15a. The top edges of the vertical legs or faces 16b of the struts are flush with the faces or legs 15a.

The struts 16 have holes 160 through the legs or faces 16a thereof, two holes being shown in the longer strut and one hole being shown in the shorter strut 16. These holes receive mounting bolts or upstanding legs 19 projecting vertically upward from the plate 13 of the ground anchor A. Nuts 200 are threaded on the bolts 19 to underlie the bottom faces 16a of the struts and support the rack 10 on the bolts Eat a desired level. Nuts 20b .are threaded on the ends of the bolts projecting through the legs 16a to-clarnp lock the frame between the nuts 20a and 20b on the bolts. In this manner, the rack is mounted in fixed horizontal relation above the ground G.

The divergent ends of the legs have longitudinally elongated slots 21 through their top faces or legs 150.

A bolt 22 is mounted in each slot 21 and has its threaded shank 22a extending through the slot with its head 22b spaced above the face 15a of the angle iron leg. A bottom nut 23 is threaded on the end of the shank 22a projecting beneath the face 15a and a second nut 24 is threaded on the shank above the face 15a. The nuts 23 and 24 are tightened to clamp the bolt 22 in fixed relation to the leg 150 at a desired location along the length of the slot 21. A third nut 25 is threaded on the shank 22 above the nut 24, and this nut 25 provides a support for a loose washer 26 mounted freely on the shank 22a under the head 22b. The level of the nut 25 will determine the level of the washer 26 above the face 15a so that the height of the washer relative to the face 15a can be varied as desired.

The internally threaded tube or coupling 17 extends vertically or upright at the apex of the frame and receives in threaded relation an externally threaded hollow stud 27 with a head 270 on the bottom end thereof below the tube 17. This head is adapted to be engaged by'a wrench W or handle to rotate the stud in the tube 16.

A cam plate 28 is welded around the upper end of the stud 27 to extend in a horizontal plane and provides a peripheral cam edge 28a eccentric to the stud axis.

A post 29 has a bottom end freely fitting in the hollow stud 27 and resting on the head end 27a thereof. This post 29 is freely rotatable relative to the stud and the stud thus acts as a swivel socket for the post. The post has a vertical leg portion 29a of a height extending above the top of the receptacle 1 l with a sloping generally horizontal leg portion 29b overlying the receptacle. A chain 30 mounted on the free end of the overlying leg portion 29b is attached to the handle 31a of the lid 31 for the receptacle 11. The chain 30 will permit raising of the lid off of the receptacle and the post 29 can then be rotated to move the leg 29b away from the open top of the receptacle permitting free access thereto. 5 7

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 the bottom of the receptacle 11 has a conventional peripheral rim or bead 32 providing a bottom edge which rests on the faces 15a of the legs and also on the top edges of the vertical faces 16b of the struts 16. This head 32 also projects peripherally beyond the side wall of the receptacle.

In accordance with this invention, the bolts 22 are positioned in the slots 21 to hold the peripheries of the washers 26 against the periphery of the container 11 and the nuts 25 are adjusted on these bolts 22 to support the washers at levels above the bead 32. Likewise, the stud 27 is threaded into the tube 17 for a distance which will carry the cam plate 28 at a level above the bead 32. Then, when the head 27a of the stud 27 is engaged by a wrench or handle and the stud 27 is rotated to move the cam plate 28 from the dotted line position shown in F IG. 4 to the solid line position against the periphery of the receptacle 11, the receptacle will be tightly clamped at three points around its periphery between the washers 26 and the cam plate 28.

To prevent unauthorized rotation of the stud 27 to move the cam 28 from its wedged engagement against the receptacle l1 and also to'prevent unauthorized removal of the post 29, a cylindrical pin lock 33 can be inserted trough a vertical slot 34 in the tube or coupling 17 near the bottom end thereof and through a hole 35 registering with this slot 34 when the cam 28 is in its extended locked position to project into a groove 36 near the bottom end of the post 29. The pin lock 33 can be actuated by a key 37 to project keepers 38 beyond the hole 35 in the space between the inner wall of the stud 27 and the bottom of the groove 36 in the post 29. In this manner, when the camplate 28 is in its wedgelocked position against the receptacle 11, the hole 35 in the stud 27 will register with the slot 34 in the tube 17 and the groove 36 in the post 29 will be sufficiently wide so that its mid-portion will be opposite the hole 35 to freely receive the end of the lock 33. Then, in order to rotate the stud 27 to swing the cam plate 28 to an unlocked position, it would be necessary to shear the pinlock 33. Likewise, attempted unauthorized lifting of the post 29 out of the stud would be prevented by abutment of the projecting end of the pin-lock 33 against the bottom shoulder 36a of the groove 36. On the other hand, the pin-lock 33 can be easily removed by an unlocking key 37 which would retract the keepers 38 into the pin permitting withdrawal of the pin through the hole 35 and slot 34.

In FIG. 6 the receptacle 11 is illustrated as equipped with a socket 39 receiving the bottom end of a short post 40 in rotatable relation. The post 40 has a vertical leg 40a extending from the socket 39 to a level above the receptacle Lid 31 and an inclined generally horizontal leg 40b overlies the lid to carry a chain 41 connected to the lid handle 310. In this arrangement, of course, the stud 27 need not be hollow.

From the above descriptions it should be clear that the invention provides a rack or carrier which will clamp-lock a receptacle in spaced relation above the ground and which is adjustable to accommodate receptacles of varying size and design.

I claim as my invention:

1. A container anchor rack which comprises a horizontal frame, legs depending from the frame for holding the frame in spaced relation above the ground, a pair of upstanding abutments on the frame spaced for engaging portions of the periphery of a container resting on the frame, an upstanding stud rotatably mounted on said frame in spaced relation from said abutments, a cam fixed on said stud having a periphery for engaging the periphery of a container on the frame at an area opposite the portions engaged by the abutments to force the container against the abutments and clamp the container to the frame, means for rotating the stud to turn the cam to and from container clamping position, and means for adjusting the heights of the abutments and the cam to engage the containerv at a desired level.

2. The rack of claim 1 wherein the means for rotating the stud is removable from the stud and the stud is locked against rotation when the cam is clamped against the container without the aid of said removable means.

3. The rack of claim 1 wherein the frame is an A- frame, the upstanding abutments are on the divergent ends of the legs of the frame, and the stud is rotatably mounted on the apex of the frame.

4. The rack of claim 1 wherein the stud is threaded into a tube on the frame to accommodate variations in level of the cam relative to the frame.

5. The rack of claim 1 wherein the abutments are loose washers on nut and bolt assemblies carried by the frame.

6. A device for anchoring refuse receptacles and the like above the ground which comprises an A-frame having an upright tube at the apex thereof and upstanding abutments at the divergent ends thereof, a stud rotatably carried by the tube, a cam on the stud for 8. The device of claim 7 including a lock securing the stud against rotation in the tube and securing the post against removal from the stud.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the A-frame is composed of angle iron legs and struts with the angle irons of the legs arranged so that their top faces will be in a flat horizontal plane and their side faces will depend from the inner edges of the top faces and the angle irons forming the struts will have flat horizontal faces at the bottoms thereof and upstanding vertical faces with top edges flush with the horizontal faces of the legs.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the frame supports an upright post for suspending a cover for a container on the frame. 

1. A container anchor rack which comprises a horizontal frame, legs depending from the frame for holding the frame in spaced relation above the ground, a pair of upstanding abutments on the frame spaced for engaging portions of the periphery of a container resting on the frame, an upstanding stud rotatably mounted on said frame in spaced relation from said abutments, a cam fixed on said stud having a periphery for engaging the periphery of a container on the frame at an area opposite the portions engaged by the abutments to force the container against the abutments and clamp the container to the frame, means for rotating the stud to turn the cam to and from container clamping position, and means for adjusting the heights of the abutments and the cam to engage the container at a desired level.
 2. The rack of claim 1 wherein the means for rotating the stud is removable from the stud and the stud is locked against rotation when the cam is clamped against the container without the aid of said removable means.
 3. The rack of claim 1 wherein the frame is an A-frame, the upstanding abutments are on the divergent ends of the legs of the frame, and the stud is rotatably mounted on the apex of the frame.
 4. The rack of claim 1 wherein the stud is threaded into a tube on the frame to accommodate variations in level of the cam relative to the frame.
 5. The rack of claim 1 wherein the abutments are loose washers on nut and bolt assemblies carried by the frame.
 6. A device for anchoring refuse receptacles and the like above the ground which comprises an A-frame having an upright tube at the apex thereof and upstanding abutments at the divergent ends thereof, a stud rotatably carried by the tube, a cam on the stud for wedge-locking the periphery of a receptacle resting on the A-frame against the abutments and legs depending from the frame for connection to a ground anchor to support the frame in spaced relation above the ground.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the tube is internally threaded, the cam is mounted on an externally threaded hollow stud in the tube and a receptacle lid carrying post is swivelly mounted in the stud.
 8. The device of claim 7 including a lock securing the stud against rotation in the tube and securing the post against removal from the stud.
 9. The device of claim 6 Wherein the A-frame is composed of angle iron legs and struts with the angle irons of the legs arranged so that their top faces will be in a flat horizontal plane and their side faces will depend from the inner edges of the top faces and the angle irons forming the struts will have flat horizontal faces at the bottoms thereof and upstanding vertical faces with top edges flush with the horizontal faces of the legs.
 10. The device of claim 6 wherein the frame supports an upright post for suspending a cover for a container on the frame. 